Acute experimental osteomyelitis and abscesses: detection with MR imaging versus CT.
Acute experimental osteomyelitis and abscesses were induced in the proximal tibia and surrounding soft tissues, respectively, in 67 New Zealand white rabbits. Fifty-three rabbits were injected with a Staphylococcus aureus solution and 26, with sterile saline in tibial medullae and/or surrounding soft tissues. Contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were performed 7 days after inoculation. Immediately after imaging, the animals were killed and necropsy was performed. MR imaging was more sensitive than CT in the detection of osteomyelitis (94% vs 66%, P less than .025) and abscesses (97% vs 52%, P less than .001). MR imaging was equally specific as CT in the exclusion of osteomyelitis (93% vs 97%, chi 2 = 0) but less specific than CT in the exclusion of abscesses (77% vs 100%, P less than .025). The overall accuracy of MR imaging was somewhat, although not significantly, greater than that of CT in the detection of both osteomyelitis (93% vs 80%) and abscesses (87% vs 75%).
Chandnani
V P
VP
Department of Radiology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
Beltran
J
J
Morris
C S
CS
Khalil
S N
SN
Mueller
C F
CF
Burk
J M
JM
Bennett
W F
WF
Shaffer
P B
PB
Vasila
M S
MS
Reese
J
J
D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000818:Animals; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011817:Rabbits; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013977:Tibia; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed